Propeller.



I. A. Hummm.

PROPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 11, 1909.

979,672, Q Patented 1180.211910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. A. HORTMAN. PROPELLBR.

I' APPLIOATION FILED EB 11 1909 Patented Dec. 27,

, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I- A- HORTLJANl PB0PELLER l APPLIUATION FILED FEB.11. 1909. n l v 979,672, Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

I. A. HORTMAN. PROPBLLER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1909. 979,672.-4

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ISAAC A. HoRrMAN, or PHILADELPHiA, PENNSYLVANIA,

PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. 27, 191e.

y Application filed February 11, 1909. Serial No.477,368.

To all whom fit may concern.'

Be it known that I, ISAAC A. HonrMAN, a citizen of the Uni-ted States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia. and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to marine propul` sion and more particularly to a reversible propeller for steam ships and other nlarine vessels.

The object of the invention is to provide a propeller by means of which the direction of .travel of a vessel may be reversed with out the necessity of reversing the engine or other motive power'.

A further object is to provide a propeller, the blades of which are mounted for oscillation on the driving shaftand operatively connected to an actuating member so that when the latter is operated the blades will be given a quarter turn and thus reverse the angle or inclination of said blades with respect to the driving shaft.

A further object is to provide means for changing the angle or inclinations of the blades with respect to the driving shaft and means for locking said blades in adjusted position. l v A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of propellers so as to increase in utility, durability, and efficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of constructionmay be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

j For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the detailsof construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reversible propeller constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4c is a detail lperspective view. partly in section, showing one of the propeller blades in reversedl position; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the propeller blade in normal piosition; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View of one of the propeller spindles showing the manner of locking the same against oscillation in one direction; Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the spindle locked against oscillation in the other direction; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the propeller blades detached showing the manner of connecting the actuating rod therewith and also showing the position of the locking pawl relativethereto; Fig. v9 is a perspective view of one of the propeller blades showing the locking pawl disengaged from the shoulder in the adjacent actuating rod; Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the lower portion of one of the propeller blades; Figf' 11 1s a perspective view of the casing detached.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The mechanism forming the subject Inat-V ter of the present invention is principally designed for propelling steam ships and other marine vessels and by way of illustration is shown 5 designates the hull of the vessel, and 6 the driving shaft. The driving shaft is projected longitudinally beyond the stern 'of the hull, and keyed orgotherwise rigidly secured to the projected end of the shaft, is a easing 7 having a plurality of radiating arms 8, preferably four in number as shown, and each provided with a transverse bore 9 constituting a bearing for the propeller blades 10. The blades 1() are mounted for oscillation in the radiating arms 8 and are each provided with a reduced shank or spindle 11 which engages the bearing of the adjacent arm, there being spaced locking lugs 12 and 13 extending laterally from the spindle end of each blade for the purpose hereinafter referred to. Each radiating arm 8 is provided with a removableface plate 14; having a vertical groove formed therein, which groove in connection with the bore 9 constitutes the bearing for. the spindle. The inner end of'each blade spindle is formed with an enlargement or shoulder 15 to which is secured in any suitable manner a laterally projecting arm 16 having an eye formed in the free end thereof for registration with a corresponding eye formed in an actuating in connection with a steam ship of the ordinary construction, 1n which v tion of the rod or member 17, the rods 17 being pivotally connected with the arms 16 by a bolt or similar fastening device, indicated at 18.

Keyed to the driving Shaft 6 is a longitudinally movable actuating sleeve 19 having its outer end closed' by a head 20 and its i11- ner end provided with a partition or diaphragm 21, which latter is spaced from the adjacent end ofthe sleeve and is formed with an annular guiding groove 22. tending longitudinally from the head 20 are locking members or rods 23, the free ends of which are bent to form angularly disposed arms 24 which enter elongated slots 25 formed in the arms of the casing 7 for connection with sliding members or blocks 26. The inner end of each locking block 26 is cut-away to produce a lip 27 arranged to engage the lug13 of the adjacent blade and lock the latter against accidental oscillation when the blades are in reversed position.

As a means for locking the vblades in a normal position,there are provided a plurality of longitudinally movable rods 28, one end of each of which is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the head 20, while the opposite ends thereof are slidably mounted in cylindrical bores 29 formed in the adjacent radiating arms'8 of the casing and in communication with the bearings 9 of said arms. The outer or free end of each locking rod 28 is reduced to form a terminal lip 30v arran red to enga-ge the locking lug 12'on the a jacent spindle 11, this result being accomplished when the sleeve 19 is adjusted longitudinally of the driving shaft in the direction of the propeller blades to drive the vessel ahead. Arranged within the hull of the vessel is a transverse beam 31 having an opening formed therein for the recepdriving Shaft 6, and disposed on opposite sides of the shaft receiving opening are relatively small openings 32 which receive longitudinally movable rods The inner ends of the rods 33 extend within the sleeve 19, and journaled on said rods are rollers 34 lwhich bear against walls of the guiding groove 22 and thus prevent friction between the parts when the driving shaft together with 'the actuating sleeve, is rotated. The innerV ends of the rods 33 may be connected to a hand operated lever, or said rods may be connected through the medium of a chain, gearing or the like, with a motor for actuating the sleeve to eect the reversal of the propeller blades. The inner end of each actuating rod 17 is slidably mounted in the head 2O of the sleeve and is provided with an offset portion or shoulder 35 defining a recess 36 adapted to receive a locking pawl or member 37, which latter serves to space the shoulder 35 from the head when the blades are in reversed position and thus cause thel rod 17 to move with the head 20 of the actuating sleeve when the latter is operated to mal position.

Keyed or otherwise permanently secured to the operating shaft or casing 7, are a plurality of longitudinally disposed ribs 38 havin inclined or cam faces, the function of which is to engage and elevate the pawls 37 from the recesses 36 in the actuating rods Ywhen the sliding sleeve 19 nears the limit of its rearward movement, so that a further longitudinal movement imparted to the sleeve will cause the locking rods 28 to engage the lugs 12 without effecting the movement of the actuating rods and consequently without rotating the blades. Arranged between the ribs 38 are smaller ribs 39 also provided with enter grooves in the pivoted ends of the locking pawls and serve to positively force the active ends of the pawls downwardly within the recesses 36 of the actuating rods 17 when the sleeve 19 has reached the limit of its forward movement and the propeller blades are in the reverse posit-ion shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings Suitable openings or recesses 40 are formed in the radiating arms of the casing 7 'so as to permit free movement of the lockreturn the bladesto noring lugs 12 and 13 when the propeller bladesare oscilla-ted to e'ect the reversal of the vessel. Thus it will be seen that when the propeller blades are in the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the loc-king lips 3() of the locking rods 28 will engage the lugs 12, of the propeller blades and lock said blades in normal position so as to propel the vessel in a forward direction. In order to effect the-reversal of the propeller blades it is merely necessary to operate the rods 33 which moves the sleeve .19 forwardly, and in so doing, releases the locking lips 30 from the lugs 12 and at the same time causes the actuating Vrods 17 to move the blades a quarter turn, so as to reverse the direction of travel of the vessel. On the initial forward movement of the actuating sleeve, the inclined faces of the ribs 39 will bear against the pivoted ends of the pawls 37 and at the completion of the forward movement of the actuating sleevel the ribs will force the active ends of the said pawls within the recesses 36, the head 20 at the same time exerting a longitudinal pull on the rods 23 and causing the lips 27 to engage the lugs 13 and lock the propeller blades in reversed position. On the initial rearward movement of the actuating sleeve, the inclined faces of the ribs 38 will bear against the active or freeA ends of thc'pawls 37, and at a point near. the com pletion of the rearward movement of the actuating sleeve, the ribs will entirely disengage the pawls from the recesses 36 so that a further rearward movement imparted to the sleeve will cause the headl to move the distance Yof the width of the pawls and thereby force the lips 30 of the locking rods 28 into engagement with the lugs 12, so as to lock the propeller blades in normal position.v

Thus it will be seen t-hat means is provided for elfecting the reversal of the propeller blades and means for positively locking the blades in norma-l and reversed positions.

A casing or housing 41 preferably surrounds the radiating arms and actuating mechanism thereby to protect the same from the deleterious action of the Water. o

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. In marine propulsion, a driving shaft, a plurality of oscillating propeller blades carried by the shaft, means for changing the angle of the blades with respect, to said shaft, and locking members independent of the driving shaft and actuated' by the blade adjusting means for securing said blades in different positions.

2. In marine propulsion, a driving shaft, a casing carried by the shaft and provided with radiating arms, propeller blades mounted for oscillation in said arms, means for oscillating the blades to effect the reversal thereof, and means carried by the blade adjusting means and independent of the driving shaftfor locking the blades in reversed position.

3. In marine propulsion, a driving shaft, a casing carried vby the shaft, a plurality of propeller blades mounted for oscillation in said casing, an actuating sleeve slidably mounted on the driving shaft, rods forming connections between the propeller blades and actuating sleeve for changing the angle of the blades with respect to the driving shaft when said sleeve is operated, and

means actuated Vby thesleeve and' independent of the driving shaft for locking the .blades in different positions of angular adjustment. r

4. In marine propulsion, a driving shaft held against movement in a longitudinal plane, but-free to rotate, a casing carried by the shaft, propeller blades mounted for os- .cillation in the casing and provided with laterally extending lugs, means slidably mounted on the driving shaft for oscillating the propeller blades to change the angle of said blades with respect to the driving shaft, and longitudinally movable locking members co-act-ing with the lugs on the propeller blades and actuated by the propeller oscill lating means for locking the blades in different positions of angular adjustment.

5. In marine propulsion, a driving shaft, a casingv carried by the shaft, a plurality of propeller blades mounted for oscillation in the casing, arms extending laterally from the propeller blades, an actuating/sleeve car7 ried by and adjustable longitudinally of the driving shaft, rods forming a connection be-l tween the actuating sleeve and' arms ofthe ropeller blades, and oppositely disposed ocking members movable with the sleeve and arranged to engage the propeller blades for locking the latter in' normal and reversed positions.

6. In marine propulsion, a driving shaft, a casing carried" by the shaft, a plurality of propeller blades mounted for oscillation in the casing, an actuating sleeve carried by and adjustable longitudinally of the driving shaft, and provided With an interior groove, a connection between the actuating sleeve and propeller blades, rods having terminal rollers engaging the guiding groove for actuating the sleeve toy effect the reversal of the propeller blades, and means for locking the said propeller blades in normal and reversed positions.

a casing carried by the driving shaft, a sleeve mounted for longitudinal movement on said driving shaft, propeller blades arranged to oscillate in the casing, actuating rods each having one end thereof pivotally connected site end slidably mounted in the sleeve and provided With a shoulder, means for adjusting the actuating sleeve to effect the reversal of the propeller blades, means for locking the propeller blades in normal and reversed positions, and pavvls pivotally mounted on the sleeve and adapted to bear against the shoulders When the blades are reversed.

8. In'marine propulsion, a driving shaft, a casing carried/ by the driving shaft, a plurality of propeller blades mounted for oscillationpin the casing, an actuating sleeve, rods operatively connected to the propeller blades and -having their inner ends slidably mounted in the sleeve and provided with shoulders defining recesses, pavvls carried by the sleeve and arranged to enter the recesses when the propeller blades are in -reversedN position, means for locking the blades in the reversed position, and means for disengaging the pavvls from the shoulders when the sleeve is actuated to return the blade to normal position.

9. In marine propulsion, a drivingshaft held against movement in a longitudinal plane, but free' to rotate, a casing carried by the shaft and provided With a plurality of radiating arms having bearings formed therein, propeller blades journaled in said bearings and provided with laterally exto an adjacent propeller blade and its oppo- 7 In marine propulsion, a driving shaft,

the reversal' tending lugs, lan actuating sleeve slidably mounted on the driving shaft, a connection between the sleeve and propeller blades for effecting the reversal of the latter, and means actuated by the-drivin shaft for locking the blades in normal an reversed positions.

10. In marine propulsion, a driving sha-ft, a casing -carried by the drivin shaft and provided with a plurality of ra iating arms having bearings formed" therein and provided with oppositely disposed longitudinal guiding recesses," one of which communicates with the adjacent bearing, proeller blades having reduced. spindles journaled in the bearings, locking lugs extending laterally from the spindles and arranged to register with the. guiding recesses, an actuating sleeve, means 'forming a connection between the spindles of the propeller blades and the actuating sleeve for eiectin of the propeller blades, an locking members slidably mounted in the guiding recesses and actuated by the sleeve to alternately engage the lugs and thereby lock the propeller blades in normal and reversed positions. f

11. In marine propulsion, a driving shaft, a casing carried by the driving shaft, a plurality of oscillating propeller` blades carried by the casing, an actuatin sleeve mounted for rotation with the driving shaft, a head forming a closure for one endl of the actuating sleeve, rods forming a pivotal connection between the propeller blades and the sleeve and having their inner ends slidably mounted in said head and provided with said sleeve and independent 01tan actuating sleeve,

'locking the propeller b shoulders -denin lookin recesses, awls pivotally mounte on the ead and a apted to enter the recesses of the rods when the blades are in reversed position, .means for positively `forcing the pawls within the recesses, means for releasing the locking pawls from the recesses when the sleeve is actuated to return the blades to normal position, and means for locking the propeller blades in normal and reversed positions.'

12. In marine propulsion, a casing carried b the driving shaft and provided with radiating arms having bearings formed therein, detachable face plates secured to the arms at said bearings, propeller blades mounted for oscillation in the bearings and provided with laterally -extending'locking lugs, there being longitudinally disposed guidin grooves formed in each arm and arrange in register with the locking lugs of the adj acent propeller blade, a connection between the actuating sleeve and each propeller blade for effecting the reversal of the latter, and locking members slidably mounted in the guiding grooves and provided with re-v duced ips arranged to alternately engage adjacent lugs on the ropeller blades for ades in normal and reversed positions. f

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC A. HORTMAN. [1.. s]

a driving Shaft, 

